Sunday, September 27, 2015

I've had a lovely orange linen which I bought on sale at the Organic Textile Company a few months ago on the spur of the moment - not my usual colour, but I thought it could work on the bottom half! This is my third go at the Brumby Skirt by Megan Nielsen, and I think my favourite so far.

I haven't much to add to my notes from my lasttwo - I did Version 1 this time, which has slightly less gathers, a good thing on my shape. I left off Megan's scallop pockets in favour of these black patch ones (with added red buttons, naturally!) and I did the centre topstitching in black to match.

Exposed zippers, still not my forte!

I made up a size Small like my last one, but this time using 4/8" seam allowances throughout, and the fit now is pretty much spot on I think.

I think this will be a jolly winter skirt with bright tights on gloomy London days.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

I fell for the culottes craze - so many beauties being made up - these three by What Katie Sews, these from the Tessuti blog, and Sallie's super Style Arc ones. I thought also that they'd be a good way into trousers on my own (I had a lot of super hand-holding for my Sew Over It pair). Annoyingly I can't remember whose blog I read who had made Butterick B6178 but they looked just the ticket for me, with four different options.

I sewed up a straight size 14, version D. I followed the instructions for the pockets, despite a nagging feeling that I always have problems with in-seam pocket gape on anything fitted round my hips. My hips are a size bigger than my waist, and they always seems to push pockets out and make quite a horrible shape. Sure enough, when I tried them on they did just that. So I took them out and sewed down the sides - I wish I did have pockets here but maybe I just can't on my shape? Is there a fix for this that anyone knows of?

They are not a bad fit out of the packet, and definitely work from my hips down which was the measurement I took, but the waist is baggy. As I fix, I added belt loops and a self tie belt, which gives it a paper bag style top - it works, but I'd like them to fit better round my waist the next time - and there will definitely be a next time with these bad boys!

I had this beautiful lace zip in my stash which was given to me by my friend Sal years ago, before I'd started sewing again properly. I'd never thought of how one could use an exposed zip, until I saw this Emery Dressby Dolly Clackett. So pretty!

My zip is a lovely burgundy, perfect with this fabric, and it was the right length - zip and fabric kismet, surely! But here's where I made an error - an exposed back zip has rather a different effect to one that follows your bum...

Uh-oh.

Let's zoom in and marvel at the heinousness!

I was going to add a photo here of a baboon's bum but I just did a Google search and they are too upsetting, frankly.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Avast, me hearties! Here I am with my attempt at a sailor style jersey day dress!

This is a dress I'd been thinking of for a bit - I had some thick cream mystery jersey which I'd been printing eyeballs on with an EYEBALL DRESS in mind (but which I'm now thinking will be too weird for useful wear). I really like the combination of white with black borders, and this looks pleasingly 60s sailoresque - I think!

I used the Nettie bodice for the top; it's now the pattern I've used by far the most. I just love the neckline and the fit of this super pattern! I widened the neckband by 1 inch to make more of a feature of it, and then drafted a separate bow which is hand sewn onto the centre of the neckband. It's nice that they look like one tied piece - I couldn't figure out how to do it as just a long piece, though I'm sure there must be a way!

The skirt is self drafted - a longer, narrowed version of the Simplicity 1880 one. It's really just two big A-line shapes. I wish it had looked a bit drapier with this fabric, but the jersey is quite thick and I think the stiff, deep hem pulls it out more as well. I LOATHE hemming, I think it's my worst job. I had to be strict with myself to bother measuring this and making it straight...

For the elasticated waist, I sewed the seam allowance of the waistband down and threaded elastic through - which took ages as it kept getting caught in the seams... but I got there in the end.

Knicker visibility horrors! I think this dress will be better with tights...!

I'm pretty happy with this dress overall, and think it'll be useful for day to day wear, despite being the amazingly un-useful colour of cream. Stretchy sailor goodness!

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Hello! This is a quick round up of a couple of projects I've finished recently. I made a couple more appliquéd bags for my friend's twin niece and nephew. I interfaced the letters and then they were pretty simple to sew on.

Then last weekend I spent a day with my mum (thanks Mum!) block printing and sewing up cushion covers. We only completed two - we're seeing them more as prototypes! And I'm not sure, what with how labour intensive the whole business is, how much more I'll be doing!

Either way, I'm going to have some for sale in my online shop, hurrah!